The Nigeria Customs Service at Apapa Port in Lagos has intercepted 12 containers filled with expired medicines, illicit drugs, and machetes, valued at N1.8 billion.
At a press briefing on Thursday, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, revealed that the seizure was crucial to protect public health and security.
“I am here to present seizures made by our officers at the Apapa Port Command, which comprise expired and controlled pharmaceutical products with a DPV of N1.8 billion,” Adeniyi said.
He added that many of the drugs were imported without the required approvals from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
“Aside from being expired, some of these drugs were brought in without the necessary NAFDAC registration numbers,” Adeniyi explained.
The CGC also noted that some of the containers were seized due to false declarations aimed at avoiding duty payments.
“In total, 12 containers have been seized. These imports are in flagrant violation of Section 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023,” he said.
One of the seized containers, numbered SEGU4339917, was declared to contain various medicines but was found to hold expired health supplements and drugs.
Adeniyi listed some of the expired items, saying, “Acyclovir capsules expired in April 2024; valsartan tablets expired in June 2024; and vitamin D supplements expired in June 2024.”
Another 20ft container, numbered DFSU 1362498, was found with cartons of Royal Tramadol 225mg hidden among expired products without a NAFDAC number. “We found cartons of tramadol concealed with expired cartons of pharmaceutical products without a NAFDAC registration number,” Adeniyi noted.
Additional seizures included containers with codeine and tramadol concealed with expired medicines, as well as two containers filled with 27,540 cutlasses.
Adeniyi praised the Apapa Command for their successful operations. “The command handles the highest volume of trade for the NCS and collects the highest revenue. I urge them to maintain this level of performance,” he said.
He also urged port users to engage only in legitimate trade. “While our commitment to facilitating legitimate trade remains unwavering, we are equally dedicated to thoroughly checking all import and export consignments,” Adeniyi concluded.
